Ella came to the Medina Raptor Center in November 2007 after being hit by a car in Lakewood. She was rehabilitated and released in March 2008 before being returned a month later with a broken wing after she hit a wire at the Lorain County Fairgrounds in Wellington. The injury to the wing was so severe that she would not be able to sustain any long flight and became an educational ambassador to her species.

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Pat Tirabasso and Danny Jordan, Ohio-certified volunteer naturalists, were collecting samples for the families to look at during the dip-netting station.

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On Saturday, March 18 the annual Shreve Spring Migration Sensation will provide nature lovers of all ages the opportunity to explore, learn, enjoy and experience a full day of family-friendly activities. The event is based at Shreve Elementary School with a wide variety of outdoor activities in the nearby Killbuck Marsh, Shreve Lake, Brown's Bog and Funk Bottoms wildlife areas, Ohio's largest inland natural wetland complex, covering 5,671 acres.

“I love this event because it gives local families a chance to learn about and explore this wonderful wetland resource, and it gives me a chance to share the stories of the critters that make the marsh such a vibrant, vital part of the landscape,” said Carrie Elvey, a senior naturalist at The Wilderness Center in Wilmot.

Activities for the day will include six workshops presented by a variety of local experts. There will be two particularly family-friendly workshops: A live animal program presented by the Akron Zoo and their animal ambassadors and a musical program titled “Songs and Tails from the Woods” by Sam Sapp and Sarah Matheny. There also will be raptors from The Medina Raptor Center.

Visitors will have the opportunity to work with spotting experts at various outdoor locations as they look for migrating birds. “The part that I like most about Shreve Spring Migration,” Heidi Garst of the Shreve Business Association said, “is having expert spotters out in the marsh. That way young bird watchers can learn about the birds that they see.”

Children and adults working together are invited to attend a beginner's fishing workshop. Garst said, “I am looking forward to this year's event with Whispering Hills Jellystone Park as a stop. At this stop we will have Passport to Fishing, a program that provides skills, techniques and information on fishing. It will also be a stop to register for the event.”

Lynda Price, the education manager and a naturalist at The Wilderness Center, explained about the Wilderness Center Exploration Area. “It is a place where families can learn about marsh animals. I love to watch the children's faces when they hear frog calls, touch a beaver pelt or see a salamander. I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful, educational experience.”

Vendors will be on hand as well with all kinds of nature-related items and gifts. There will be a story walk and dip-netting for marsh creatures. Shreve Library will provide hands-on indoor activities for children of all ages.

Elvey said, “Many folks drive by or through the marsh on their way to work, school events, grocery shopping. We tend to take for granted that which is familiar. This event gives [everyone] a chance to literally dig deeper.”

The Shreve Spring Migration Sensation is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $15 or $20 for families and includes all events and workshops. Shreve Elementary School is located at 598 N. Market St. (state Route 226) in Shreve. Maps and information on the Shreve Spring Migration Sensation and directions to Shreve can be accessed online.